Dredging apparatus, system, and method with adjustable turbidity curtain and bubble tube frame

ABSTRACT

Embodiments of the disclosure provide a dredging apparatus, including a buoyant platform having an upper surface, a lower surface configured to float on a body of water, and an opening having a horizontal cross-sectional area and extending from the upper surface through the lower surface. A set of supports, mechanically coupled to the platform, is configured to maintain a position of the buoyant platform above a dredge site at a bottom of the body of water. A turbidity curtain, coupled to the platform using a plurality of telescoping members, surrounds at least the horizontal cross-sectional area of the opening. A bubble tube frame, coupled to the turbidity curtain and extending outwardly therefrom to surround the turbidity curtain, includes a plurality of outlets configured to emit bubbles into the body of water around a perimeter of the dredge site.

BACKGROUND 1. Technical Field

Embodiments of the disclosure pertain to equipment and methods fordredging. More specifically, embodiments of the disclosure provide adredging apparatus, method, and system with an adjustable turbiditycurtain and bubble tube frame.

2. Background Art

Removing of sediment from beneath the surface of water, or “dredging,”is a common environmental engineering process that may be undertaken fora variety of purposes. Successful dredging operations require compliancewith several environmental regulations, which may increase the time andcosts associated with a dredging operation. Conventional dredging usesone of several special-purpose dredging apparatuses adapted for use in aparticular type of dredge site (e.g., a submerged river or ocean bed)with a particular depth and located in a particular ecosystem. Furthercomplications may arise when endangered species, or other protectedanimals, are present at a dredge site. The types of endangered speciesat a dredge site may limit the type of dredging apparatus available tocomplete a dredging project. Although some dredging apparatuses aresuitable for multiple dredge sites and/or ecosystems, differencesbetween each dredge site may prevent any one dredging apparatus frombeing usable in multiple situations. The need for environmentalspecialists to monitor certain dredge sites may further limit theusefulness of some dredging apparatuses.

SUMMARY

The illustrative aspects of the present disclosure are designed to solvethe problems herein described and/or other problems not discussed.

An aspect of the disclosure provides dredging apparatus, including: abuoyant platform having an upper surface, a lower surface configured tofloat on a body of water, and an opening having a horizontalcross-sectional area and extending from the upper surface through thelower surface; a set of supports mechanically coupled to the buoyantplatform, wherein the set of supports is configured to maintain aposition of the buoyant platform above a dredge site at a bottom of thebody of water; a turbidity curtain coupled to the buoyant platform usinga plurality of telescoping members, wherein the turbidity curtainsurrounds at least the horizontal cross-sectional area of the opening;and a bubble tube frame coupled to the turbidity curtain and extendingoutwardly therefrom to surround the turbidity curtain, the bubble tubeframe including a plurality of outlets configured to emit bubbles intothe body of water around a perimeter of the dredge site.

Further aspects of the disclosure provide a dredging system, including:a buoyant platform having an upper surface, a lower surface configuredto float on a body of water, and an opening having a horizontalcross-sectional area and extending from the upper surface through thelower surface; a set of supports mechanically coupled to the buoyantplatform, wherein the set of supports is configured maintain a positionof the buoyant platform above a dredge site at a bottom of the body ofwater; a turbidity curtain coupled to the buoyant platform using aplurality of telescoping members, the turbidity curtain surrounds atleast the horizontal cross-sectional area of the opening; a bubble tubeframe coupled to the turbidity curtain and extending outwardly therefromto surround the turbidity curtain, the bubble tube frame including aplurality of outlets configured to emit bubbles into the body of wateraround a perimeter of the dredge site; a wildlife detector mounted onthe buoyant platform, and configured to monitor a body of water, whereinthe wildlife detector is configured to detect wildlife and a distance ofthe wildlife from the dredge site; and a controller operatively coupledto the wildlife detector and a fluid supply to the bubble tube frame,wherein the controller is configured to selectively enable a flow offluid to the bubble tube frame in response to the detected wildlifeincluding a protected species, and the protected species being within athreshold distance from the dredge site.

Another aspect of the disclosure provides a method including:positioning a buoyant platform above a dredge site within a body ofwater, the buoyant platform having an upper surface, a lower surfaceconfigured to float on the body of water, and an opening having ahorizontal cross-sectional area over the dredge site and extending fromthe upper surface through the lower surface; monitoring the body ofwater with a wildlife detector configured to detect wildlife within thebody of water, and a distance of the wildlife from the dredge site;selectively emitting bubbles around a perimeter of the dredge site usinga bubble tube frame of a turbidity curtain coupled to the buoyantplatform, in response to the detected wildlife including a targetedspecies, and the targeted species being within a threshold distance fromthe dredge site; and conducting a dredge operation on the dredge siteafter positioning the buoyant platform above the dredge site, and duringthe monitoring of the body of water.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

These and other features of this disclosure will be more readilyunderstood from the following detailed description of the variousaspects of the disclosure taken in conjunction with the accompanyingdrawings that depict various embodiments of the disclosure, in which:

FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of a dredging apparatus according toembodiments of the disclosure.

FIG. 2 shows a perspective view of the dredging apparatus with bubblesbeing emitted from a bubble tube frame according to embodiments of thedisclosure.

FIG. 3 shows a partial perspective view of a turbidity curtain and aportion of a buoyant platform according to embodiments of thedisclosure.

FIG. 4 shows a plan view of a turbidity curtain of a dredging apparatusaccording to embodiments of the disclosure.

FIG. 5 shows a side view of a turbidity curtain of a dredging apparatusaccording to embodiments of the disclosure.

FIG. 6 shows a plan view of a turbidity curtain and bubble tube frame ofa dredging apparatus on a bottom of a body of water according toembodiments of the disclosure.

FIG. 7 shows a side view of a turbidity curtain and bubble tube frame ofa dredging apparatus according to embodiments of the disclosure.

FIG. 8 shows an expanded partial side view of a telescoping member andwinch in a dredging apparatus according to embodiments of thedisclosure.

FIG. 9 shows a side view of a dredge apparatus in an expanded positionfor high water depths, according to embodiments of the disclosure.

FIG. 10 shows a side view of a dredge apparatus in a less-expandedposition for reduced water depths, according to embodiments of thedisclosure.

It is noted that the drawings of the disclosure are not necessarily toscale. The drawings are intended to depict only typical aspects of thedisclosure, and therefore should not be considered as limiting the scopeof the disclosure. In the drawings, like numbering represents likeelements between the drawings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The corresponding structures, materials, acts, and equivalents of allmeans or step plus function elements in the claims below are intended toinclude any structure, material, or act for performing the function incombination with other claimed elements as specifically claimed. Thedescription of the present disclosure has been presented for purposes ofillustration and description, but is not intended to be exhaustive orlimited to the disclosure in the form disclosed. Many modifications andvariations will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the artwithout departing from the scope and spirit of the disclosure. Theembodiment was chosen and described in order to best explain theprinciples of the disclosure and the practical application, and toenable others of ordinary skill in the art to understand the disclosurefor various embodiments with various modifications as are suited to theparticular use contemplated.

Embodiments of the disclosure provide a dredging apparatus, system, andmethod, with an adjustable turbidity curtain and bubble tube frame.Additional features may identify protected wildlife in the vicinity of adredge site, to selectively emit bubbles from the bubble tube frame todeter the wildlife from the dredge site. Embodiments of the disclosurecan provide a buoyant platform including an upper surface, lower surfacefor floating on a body of water, and an opening having a horizontalcross-sectional area and extended from the upper surface through thelower surface. The buoyant platform may be coupled to a set of supportsfor maintaining a position of the buoyant platform above a dredge siteat a bottom of a body of water. A turbidity curtain may be coupled tothe buoyant platform via one or more telescoping members, and theturbidity curtain may surround at least the horizontal cross-sectionalarea of the opening. A bubble tube frame may be coupled to the turbiditycurtain, and may extend outwardly therefrom to surround the turbiditycurtain. Several outlets may emit bubbles into the body of water arounda perimeter of the dredge site. Embodiments of the disclosure arecapable of being mounted on or attached to barges, sectional platforms,etc. Various embodiments discussed herein are capable of beingtransported and reused at multiple locations to allow dredgingoperations under a variety of conditions and/or at multiple locations.The apparatus can be used in a variety of additional applications, e.g.,underwater demolition, pile driving, drilling, subaqueous in situsediment stabilization, etc.

Referring to FIG. 1, a perspective view of an apparatus 100 and system102 are shown according to embodiments of the disclosure. Apparatus 100may form part of, and/or may be used together with, system 102 forconducting dredge operations, e.g., in methods according to embodimentsof the disclosure. Although apparatus 100 may be operatively coupled toadditional dredging equipment (e.g., a barge, sectional platform, etc.),such elements are omitted from the accompanying FIGS. solely for clarityof illustration. Apparatus 100 may include a buoyant platform 104,optionally subdivided into a first portion 104 a and a second portion104 b. Portions 104 a, 104 b, where applicable, may be mechanicallycoupled together by any currently known or later developed type ofmechanical fastener and/or coupling component. First portions 104 a, 104b may be distinguishable from each other, e.g., based on the componentsand/or subcomponents included thereon. Buoyant platform 104 may have anexterior formed of one or more metal, plastic, and/or compositematerials, but in any case may have a substantially hollow interiorand/or sets of air pockets having a volume sufficient for buoyantplatform 104 to float on a body of water 106, at approximately its uppersurface WL (i.e., some portions of buoyant platform 104 may be partiallysubmerged below upper surface WL). Body of water 106 may represent,e.g., part of a river, ocean, lake, reservoir, and/or other marineenvironment.

Buoyant platform 104 may include an upper surface A, a lower surface Bconfigured (e.g., by its shape and/or composition) to float on uppersurface WL of body of water 106, and an opening 108 extending from uppersurface A through lower surface B (i.e., completely through buoyantplatform 104). Opening 108 may have a cross-sectional area that is sizedfor placement over a dredge site 110 located at a bottom T of body ofwater 106. In an example, bottom T may be approximately forty feetbeneath upper surface WL of body of water 106, but it is understood thatapparatus 100 and several of its components can accommodate a variety ofdepths. Apparatus 100 and system 102 is shown to be positioned overbottom T of body of water 106, where a dredging operation is to beimplemented. Buoyant platform 104 may be dimensioned and/or otherwisestructured to support dredging equipment such as an excavator 113 forphysically operating on dredge site 110. Excavator 113 may beoperationally independent of apparatus 100, and may take the form of anycurrently known or later developed instrument for moving sediment fromone location to another (e.g., from beneath body of water 106 to areceptacle on buoyant platform 104 or elsewhere). Opening 108 may extendfrom upper surface A through to lower surface B to allow excavator 113to access dredge site 110 during a dredge operation.

Further components of apparatus 100 and/or system 102 may be configuredto maintain the position of buoyant platform 104 over dredge site 110,adjust the position of further elements relative to upper surface WL ofbody of water 106, and/or provide further control over a dredgingoperation. For instance, apparatus 100 may include a set of supports 112mechanically coupled to buoyant platform 104. In one implementation,buoyant platform 104 may be slidably mounted on support(s) 112. Forexample, each support 112 may be slidably coupled to buoyant platform104 through a slidable coupling, bearing, and/or other device allowingone element (e.g., buoyant platform 104) relative to another element(e.g., one or more supports 112). Supports 112 are shown by example tohold buoyant platform 104 in place above dredge site 110 by beingmounted on bottom T of body of water 106. It is understood, however,that buoyant platform 104 may be coupled to another structure (e.g., abarge, another platform, etc.) through one or more additional couplings.Since buoyant platform 104 floats on body of water 106, supports 112 maybe located on only certain portions of the perimeter of buoyant platform104 and/or may only be located at predetermined positions, to preventbuoyant platform 104 from drifting with the flow of body of water 106.The slidable couplings between buoyant platform 104 and supports 112 mayallow the apparatus 100 and/or system 102 to be adjusted when moving todifferent locations, and/or in response to changing water depths,dredging conditions, etc.

In cases where upper surface WL changes with time (e.g., rising andfalling tides, seasonal water levels in a river, estuary, etc.), buoyantplatform 104 can move vertically with respect to support(s) 112 whilemaintaining its position over dredge site 110. Supports 112 can bemounted on bottom T of body of water 106, e.g., by extending into theearth beneath body of water 106. Support(s) 112 thus can removably mountbuoyant platform 104 on a selected portion of bottom T of body of water106. Support(s) 112 can be located on multiple locations of buoyantplatform 104 (e.g., two shown in FIG. 1) to align opening 108 withdredge site 110.

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 3-5 together, apparatus 100 and/or system 102can also include a turbidity curtain 114 coupled to buoyant platform 104through several telescoping members 116. Telescoping members 116, whichmay take the form of vertically-extending telescoping pipes, provide arigid cage to support enclosing dredge site 110 by a turbidity curtain114, discussed herein. FIG. 1 is a perspective view of apparatus 100with buoyant platform 104 included, and FIGS. 3-5 respectively providean expanded perspective, plan, and side view of turbidity curtain 114and telescoping members 116 with respect to a portion of buoyantplatform 104. Turbidity curtain 114, alternatively known as a “turbiditybarrier,” may be embodied as any currently known or later developedflexible, impermeable barrier for trapping sediment within body of water106. Turbidity curtain 114 may include a continuous sheet of impermeablematerial extending from buoyant platform 104 to bottom T of body ofwater 106. The texture of turbidity curtain 114 is not visible inperspective views (e.g., those in FIGS. 1 and 5) solely to betterillustrate position of other elements.

Turbidity curtain 114 may be formed of any currently known or laterdeveloped material capable of blocking the passage of all fluids (e.g.,water and oil) or may be formed of a semi-permeable material whichallows selected fluids (e.g., water) to pass therethrough. Thesemi-permeable material of turbidity curtain 114 may block passage ofsuspended particles, the size of which may be dictated by the type ofsemi-permeable turbidity curtain used, from exiting dredge site 110.Turbidity curtain 114 may also prevent such particles from enteringdredge site 110 as well. However embodied, turbidity curtain 114 blocksall suspended particles and fluids (i.e. water, oil, other contaminantscontained in the sediment) from passing therethrough. Turbidity curtain114 may be coupled to, or otherwise may include, one or more floating“absorbent booms” (not shown) positioned at various locations around theinterior and exterior perimeters of dredge site 110 to prevent therelease of oil/sheen at upper surface WL of body of water 106 water fromleaving the active dredging area. Such sheens can be generated by therelease of contaminants in the sediment being dredged, or incidentallyby excavator 113, and/or by portions of apparatus 100 itself.

However embodied, turbidity curtain 114 may be shaped to enclose across-sectional area that is at least as large as opening 108 throughbuoyant platform 104. In this manner, turbidity curtain 114 may preventpassage of objects into, or out of, dredge site 110 beneath opening 108.Telescoping members 116 may be mounted on buoyant platform 104 (e.g., onfirst portion 104 a) and more particularly may be arranged about opening108. Telescoping members 116 may have adjustable lengths, such that theposition of turbidity curtain 114 may be adjusted to accommodate changesto the position of upper surface WL of body of water 106. Turbiditycurtain 114 and telescoping members 116 can surround at least thecross-sectional area of opening 108, thereby allowing turbidity curtain114 to horizontally surround dredge site 110. Before use, turbiditycurtain 114 may be positioned vertically above bottom T of body of water106, before being repositioned to a desired depth via telescopingmembers 116. In an example embodiment, telescoping members 116 may allowapparatus 100 and/or system 102 to be used at varying depths, e.g.,between ten and forty feet. Thus, embodiments of the disclosure allowturbidity curtain 114 to extend through over, for example, forty feet ofwater, while remaining operable when deployed in shallower depths. Thisvariability may prevent mismatch between some types of machines anddredge configurations, while retaining sufficient clearance for shallowand/or deep dredging without fundamentally modifying buoyant platform104.

Referring now to FIGS. 1, 2, 6, and 7, embodiments of apparatus 100and/or system 102 can also include a bubble tube frame 120 mechanicallycoupled to buoyant platform 104 and/or turbidity curtain 114. Bubbletube frame 120 may be structured to include several fluid outlets foremitting bubbles into body of water 106, e.g., around a perimeter ofdredge site 110 (e.g., as shown in FIG. 2). FIGS. 1 and 2 depict bubbletube frame 120 in non-active and active states, respectively. FIG. 6depicts turbidity curtain 114 and bubble tube frame 120 on bottom T(FIGS. 1, 2) of body of water 106, while FIG. 7 provides a side view ofmechanical couplings between bubble tube frame 120 and other portions ofapparatus 100 and/or system 102. Bubble tube frame 120 may bemechanically coupled to at least a portion of turbidity curtain 114, asshown, but it is also understood that bubble tube frame 120 may becoupled to buoyant platform independently of turbidity curtain 114.Bubble tube frame 120 may be adjustably or non-adjustably coupled tobuoyant platform 104, directly or through any desired number ofintermediate elements. Bubble tube frame 120 may enclose thecross-sectional areas of turbidity curtain 114 and opening 108 throughbuoyant platform 104. Bubble tube frame 120 may be mechanically coupledto a lowermost surface of turbidity curtain 114 at a selected location,such that bubble frame 120 may rest on bottom T of body of water 106 atsubstantially the same depth as turbidity curtain 114. Before beingdeployed, bubble tube frame 120 may be located above bottom T, beforefurther elements of apparatus 100 and/or system 102 move bubble tubeframe 120 to a desired position, as discussed herein.

In some implementations, a plurality of winches 122, 123 may be mountedon buoyant platform 104 (e.g., on upper surface A and on first portion104 a). Winches 122 may be positioned on the horizontal exterior ofplatform 104 for positioning bubble tube frame 120. Winches 123 may bepositioned on the horizontal interior of platform 104 (e.g., adjacentopening 108) to control telescoping members 116. It is understood thatthe difference in numbering is solely for clarity of explanation, andthat winches 122, 123 may be identical to each other in someimplementations. Winches 122 may be structured to control a verticalposition of bubble tube frame 120 with respect to lower surface B ofbuoyant platform 104, and/or upper surface WL of body of water 106,e.g., by direct adjustment and/or automated control. Winches 123 may beoperatively coupled to telescoping members 116, similarly to control aheight and/or vertical position of turbidity curtain 114 relative tobody of water 106. According to one example, fourteen winches 122 may beon platform 104 to control bubble tube frame 120, while sixteen winches123 may control telescoping members 116. Winches 122, 123 may be mountedon buoyant platform 104 at respective positions, with a cable portion ofeach winch 122, 123 being mechanically coupled to respective portion ofbubble tube frame 120 or telescoping member(s) 116. According to furtherembodiments, custom mounting and/or frameworks may allow different winchconfigurations to be used with apparatus 100 and/or system 102, whilestill performing substantially the same functions. In furtherimplementations, buoyant platform 104 may include customized frameworkto support more or fewer winches 122, 123 and accompanying electricallines to operate winches 122, 123, i.e., motorized spool portionsthereof. Similar modifications may also be applied to the mounting oftelescoping members 116 on buoyant platform 104, e.g., such that anoperator may adjust the position of turbidity curtain 114 and/or bubbletube frame 120 together or independently of each other. In such cases,standoff connections between winches 122, 123 and/or between the frameof telescoping members 116 for turbidity curtain 114, and for bubbletube frame 120, can be implemented for stability and synchronizedoperation.

Referring briefly to FIG. 8, a partial side view of buoyant platform104, telescoping member 116, bubble tube frame 120, and winch 122, isshown according to some implementations. As shown, bubble tube frame 120can be fluidically coupled to a fluid supply 124 for compressing and/orstoring compressed air for transmission to bubble tube frame 120. Bubbletube frame 120 may be coupled to fluid supply 124 via any currentlyknown or later developed fluid delivery system, e.g., air conduitsembedded within telescoping members 116 and/or other portions ofapparatus 100 and/or system 102. Fluid supply 124 alternatively may becoupled to bubble tube frame 120 through one or more dedicated fluidconnections. Thus, air supply 124 could potentially be fluidly connectedto bubble tube frame 120 and/or other portions of apparatus 100 throughtelescoping member(s) 116, and/or in any other number of ways or withinany other forms of conduit like protection. Thus, the fluid connectionbetween fluid supply 124 and bubble tube frame 120 may be operationalregardless of where turbidity curtain 114 and/or bubble tube frame 120are positioned relative to buoyant platform 104. Bubble tube frame 120itself may include a set of embedded fluid pipes configured to route afluid, e.g., compressed air from fluid supply 124, to various outletsdistributed throughout the exterior of turbidity curtain 114. Bubbletube frame 120 may emit a barrier F (FIG. 2) of bubbles through suchoutlets into body of water 106 to deter various forms of wildlife inbody of water 106 from entering dredge site 110. Bubble tube frame 120can thereby prevent one or more protected species 130 (FIG. 2) withinbody of water 106 from coming into contact with turbidity curtain 114,dredge site 110, and/or any pieces of equipment included on and/orconnected to excavator 113.

Referring to FIGS. 1, 2, and 7 apparatus 100 and/or system 102 mayinclude further components for automatic control of when bubble tubeframe 120 will emit barrier F. Such components may conserve air andenergy, while reducing or preventing the effect that dredging operationshave on wildlife within body of water 106. System 102 thus may include awildlife detector 140, e.g., mounted on first portion 104 a of buoyantplatform 104. Wildlife detector 140 may be any device, system, etc., formonitoring and detecting wildlife in an environment such as body ofwater 106. Wildlife detector 140 thus may include, e.g., various typesof acoustic imaging devices, thermal imaging devices, audio-visualcameras, and/or other devices capable of evaluating whether animals arepresent within body of water 106. Wildlife detector 140 may be capableof identifying various forms of wildlife (including, e.g., protectedspecies 130), and/or calculating a distance of the identified wildlifefrom dredge site 110. Various implementations for providing suchfeatures are discussed herein, and may include additional componentsincluded within and/or coupled to wildlife detector 140.

In some implementations, wildlife detector 140 may include a sonartransceiver 142 configured to send sound waves into body of water 106,and receive sound waves that are reflected back to sonar transceiver142. Wildlife detector 140 and/or sonar detector 142 can interpret theincoming sound waves to generate a “visual signature” of variouselements in body of water 106. The term “visual signature” may include,e.g., an acoustic map of body of water 106 and/or other elements neardredge site 110. In this case, sonar transceiver 142 can indicate towildlife detector 140 whether any wildlife is within a thresholddistance S of dredge site 110, and/or the type(s) of wildlife withinbody of water 106. In cases where only some types of wildlife areprotected and/or vulnerable to the presence of apparatus 100 and/orsystem 102, a controller 144 may be coupled to wildlife detector 140 andmay distinguish between protected species 130 and other species withinbody of water 106. Controller 144 may be communicatively coupled towildlife detector 140 and fluid supply 124, thereby controlling theoperation of fluid supply 124 based on signals received and/orinterpreted by wildlife detector 140. Controller 144 moreover may causebubble tube frame 120 to emit barrier F only when sensitive species 130is within threshold distance S of dredge site 110. In this case,controller 144 may selectively enable or disable a flow of air fromfluid supply 124 to bubble tube frame 120 when wildlife detector 140identifies the presence or absence of sensitive species 130 withinthreshold distance S of dredge site 110, based on the visual signaturesgenerated via wildlife detector 140 and/or sonar transceiver 142.

Sonar transceiver 142 of wildlife detector 140 may be any currentlyknown or later developed acoustic monitoring system for analysis of bodyof water 106 near dredge site 110. Sonar transceiver 142 may bepreferred for use with wildlife detector 140 for its ability tocontextualize incoming sound by generating a visual signature based ondetected sound waves. In this case, sonar transceiver 142 may includeadaptive resolution imaging sonar and/or dual-frequency identificationsonar. To process and interpret the incoming sound waves, controller 144and/or wildlife detector 140 may implement one or more acoustic analysistechniques (e.g., attack-sustain-decay-release (ASDR) analysis) todistinguish between various types of incoming sound waves. Wildlifedetector 140 thus may be capable of identifying wildlife within or nearthe dredge site to evaluate the risk of interfering with various typesof protected species 130 (e.g., endangered fish).

The use of wildlife detector 140, sonar transceiver 142, and/orcontroller 144 on buoyant platform 104 to monitor for protected species130 is a departure from conventional dredging apparatuses. Conventionalsystems typically rely on personnel (e.g., divers) and/or an independentmonitoring system, as compared to using a sensor for automatic detectionof wildlife at higher depths and/or low visibility regions. In stillfurther embodiments, sonar transceiver 142, and/or buoyant platform 104itself, may include an acoustic disruptor sub-system in addition tobubble tube frame 120 to deter further protected species 130 fromentering dredge site 110. In this case, the acoustic disruptorsub-system may emit sounds that cause some protected species 130 to moveaway from dredge site 110 without approaching turbidity curtain 114,further reducing the risk of damage to protected species 130 in asensitive area. Where applicable, the acoustic disruptor sub-system ofsonar transceiver 142 may operate independently of bubble tube frame 120and/or in tandem with bubble tube frame 120. In some cases, wildlifedetector 140 may be coupled to both bubble tube frame 120 and/or anyacoustic disruption sub-systems of sonar transceiver 142 such thatacoustic interference is emitted only in response to when sonartransceiver 142 detecting sound waves are indicative of sensitivespecies 130.

Apparatus 100 and/or system 102 in some cases may include a networktransceiver 150 for exchanging various types of data with a monitoringsystem 152 at a location 154 distal to buoyant platform 104. To allowremote monitoring and/or control of a dredging operation, networktransceiver 150 may be coupled to wildlife detector 140, and may beconfigured to exchange various forms of data with a monitoring system152 located at a remote location 154. The inclusion of networktransceiver 150 may allow individuals to monitor one or more sitesremotely without being physically present on buoyant platform 104.Network transceiver 150 may include any currently known or laterdeveloped communication system for exchanging data with interconnectedsystems, e.g., satellite based, radio based, and/or communicationline-based communication infrastructure(s). Network transceiver 150itself may take a variety of forms including, e.g., a stationary (i.e.,non-moveable) transceiver device, an aerial transceiver device, avehicle-based transceiver, etc. Network transceiver 150 may represent asingle communications node of a distributed communication network (e.g.,including multiple instances of apparatus 100 and/or system 102, and/orother related devices) capable of communicating with other networktransceivers 150 and/or other monitoring systems 152, as noted herein.Network transceiver 150 in one example may be configured for remotecommunication via wireless radio frequency (RF), and/or other types ofcommunication systems.

Network transceiver 150 may include wireless fidelity (Wi-Fi), hardwarefor enabling communication with and/or between local area network (LAN)devices within a single LAN area. Wi-Fi infrastructure may beparticularly suitable for creating a LAN area because Wi-Fi offers amid-sized network area (i.e., up to approximately three hundred-footradius) for interconnecting multiple network transceivers 150.Embodiments of the disclosure may integrate a first type of networkinfrastructure (e.g., Wi-Fi as noted above) with a second, distinct typeof network infrastructure configured to allow communication over largerdistances (e.g., several miles as compared to several-hundred feet). Insome cases, network transceiver 150 may act as a short-range transceiverfor permitting communication between embodiments of apparatus 100 and/orsystem 102 in nearby locations. In any case, network transceiver 150 mayinclude an RF antenna, and/or any conceivable long-range transmissioncomponents (including RF hardware and/or other types of communicationinfrastructure) for transmitting data packets between interconnecteddevices. In further implementations, network transceiver 150 may be partof, or may provide, a low-power wide-area network (LPWAN). According toone example, the LPWAN may be provided via the LoRaWAN™ specification orother proprietary, commercially-available technology for wireless datacommunication.

Network transceiver 150 may allow a user to access various forms of data(e.g., information pertaining to the embodiment where body of water 106is located, relevant information from ongoing related dredgingoperations, etc.), from another apparatus and/or from monitoring system152. Network transceiver 150 may also provide an access point toexternal networking technology within and/or coupled to monitoringsystem 152, thereby providing a mechanism for exchanging informationsuch as software updates and/or instructions to various components ofapparatus 100 and/or system 102 (e.g., controller 144 discussed herein).It is possible for other users, systems, etc., to access components ofapparatus 100 and/or monitoring system 152 via additional devices (e.g.,personal computers, phones, tablets, etc.), that are included on thesame communications network. Thus, it is possible for a user ofmonitoring system 152 and/or other types of hardware that is notphysically present on buoyant platform 104 to access, monitor, and/orcontrol the functions of apparatus 100 and/or system 102, e.g., throughnetwork transceiver 150. These features moreover may allow monitoringsystem 152 to immediately enable or disable wildlife deterrents (e.g.,disable fluid flow from fluid supply 124) without visual inspection orintervention at the site of buoyant platform 104 and/or body of water106.

Network transceiver 150 may include and/or otherwise be coupled to oneor more power sources 160 for enabling operation of its functionswithout reliance on a conventional power grid or similar infrastructure.In various implementations, power source(s) 160 may include or otherwisebe coupled to a generator, battery, solar panel, wind turbine, and/orother power source for providing electrical energy on command. Whereonly temporary network accessibility is required (e.g., only a fewminutes or hours), network transceiver 150 may offer smaller size and/orlimited portability by changing the type of applicable power source. Inone example, network transceiver(s) 150 may be configured to operateover at least one day without sunlight, or alternatively for multipledays in presence of continued sunlight. Power source 160 itself may alsobe coupled to other components of apparatus 100 and/or system 102described herein, e.g., telescoping members 116, winches 122, 123,and/or wildlife detector 140 to drive the various physical and/orelectrical operations described herein.

To mechanically drive various operations of apparatus 100 and/or system102, a hydraulic adjustment system 170 may be mounted on an uppersurface of buoyant platform 104 (e.g., on second portion 104 b thereof).Hydraulic adjustment system 170 may include, or otherwise be coupled to,a source of energy such as power source 160 described herein. Hydraulicadjustment system 170 may include a hydraulic pump 172 for driving ahydraulic actuator 174 of, e.g., supports 112 and/or other mechanicallyactuated components such as telescoping members 116 with respect tobuoyant platform 104. Where applicable, each hydraulic actuator 174 maybe mechanically integrated within support(s) 112, or alternatively othercomponents such as telescoping members 116, to enable adjustment of thevarious components with respect to buoyant platform 104. Hydraulic pump172 thus may mechanically drive various functions such as, e.g.,mounting of support(s) 112 within bottom T of body of water 106 tomaintain a position of buoyant platform 104. In further embodiments,other types of actuator assemblies (e.g., hybrid hydraulic-electricaland/or other hybrid actuator system) and/or non-hydraulic actuators maybe mounted on buoyant platform 104, used together with and/or insubstitution for hydraulic adjustment system 170, to control variousmechanical functions of apparatus 100 and/or system 102.

Referring to FIGS. 9 and 10, embodiments of apparatus 100 and system 102can be used in methods according to the disclosure. FIG. 9 depictsapparatus 100 and system 102 in an expanded position with barrier Fbeing emitted, while FIG. 10 depicts apparatus 100 and system 102 in anat least partially-retracted position without barrier F being emittedfrom bubble tube frame 120. Methods according to the disclosure mayinclude positioning buoyant platform 104 within body of water 106, suchthat opening 108 is above dredge site 110. At this point, excavator 113may be used to conduct a dredging operation on dredge site 110. Themethod may include further processes to protect outside interferencewith dredge site 110, and/or to prevent protected species 130 from beinghurt or killed by the dredging hardware of apparatus 100.

Methods according to the disclosure may include using wildlife detector140 to detect various types of wildlife within body of water 106, andcalculate the distance of any detected wildlife from dredge site 110.The monitoring of wildlife may be implemented, e.g., with sonartransceiver 142 coupled to wildlife detector 140, and/or any other typeof hardware capable of monitoring body of water 106 for wildlife. In theevent that protected specie(s) 130 come within threshold distance S ofdredge site 110, wildlife detector 140 may signal controller 144 (oralternatively, may signal fluid supply 124 (FIGS. 1, 2) directly) toemit barrier F (FIG. 9 only) from bubble tube frame 120. When protectedspecie(s) 130 is not within threshold distance S, bubble tube frame 120may remain inactive to conserve fluid, energy, etc.

Methods according to the disclosure may further include other actions toadjust the position of turbidity curtain 114 and/or bubble tube frame120 relative to buoyant platform 104. In cases where upper surface WL ofbody of water 106 changes with time and/or environmental conditions,methods according to the disclosure can include adjusting telescopingmembers 116 and/or winches 122, 123 (e.g., with energy from power source160) to accommodate the changing water depths and/or position of buoyantplatform 104. Such adjustment may not interfere with the operation ofbubble tube frame 120 in implementations where bubble tube frame 120 isfluidly coupled to fluid supply 124 (FIGS. 1, 2) through telescopingmembers 116. Further adjusting of buoyant platform 104, before, during,and/or after the conducting of a dredging operation, may include usinghydraulic adjustment system 170 and hydraulic pump 172 to mountsupport(s) 112 on bottom T of body of water 106. The adjusting ofsupport(s) 112 with hydraulic adjustment system 170 may be operationallyindependent of telescoping members 116 and/or winches 122, 123. Thevarious adjustments to apparatus 100 and/or system 102 may occur before,at the same time, and/or after a dredging operation with excavator 113and/or monitoring of body of water 106 for protected species 130.

Embodiments of the disclosure provide various technical and commercialadvantages, some of which are discussed herein as examples. Embodimentsof apparatus 100 and/or system 102 can provide a single movable platformfor operating on dredge site 110, while also preventing significant harmto protected species 130 that otherwise may approach dredge site 110and/or interfere with ongoing dredge operations. The inclusion ofturbidity curtain 114 and bubble tube frame 120, moreover, may allowreal-time adjustment of these components of apparatus 100 and system 102to accommodate changes in body of water 106, and/or the re-use ofapparatus 100 and/or system 102 at other dredge sites 110 withoutsignificant alterations to apparatus 100 or system 102. Thus, structuresand methods according to embodiments of the disclosure integrate severaldistinct functions (e.g., positioning, wildlife deterrence, access forexcavator 113, etc.) onto a single buoyant platform 104 with mobilecapabilities. In any case, apparatus 100 and/or system 102 each have theability to be tailored to a variety of environmental dredging projectconditions and requirements, using all or any combination of thefeatures described herein, thereby allowing for flexible implementationand associated costs.

The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particularembodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of the disclosure.As used herein, the singular forms “a,” “an,” and “the” are intended toinclude the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicatesotherwise. It will be further understood that the terms “comprises”and/or “comprising,” when used in this specification, specify thepresence of stated features, integers, steps, operations, elements,and/or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of oneor more other features, integers, steps, operations, elements,components, and/or groups thereof.

What is claimed is:
 1. A dredging apparatus, comprising: a buoyantplatform having an upper surface, a lower surface configured to float ona body of water, and an opening having a horizontal cross-sectional areaand extending from the upper surface through the lower surface; a set ofsupports mechanically coupled to the buoyant platform, wherein the setof supports is configured to maintain a position of the buoyant platformabove a dredge site at a bottom of the body of water; a turbiditycurtain coupled to the buoyant platform using a plurality of telescopingmembers, wherein the turbidity curtain surrounds at least the horizontalcross-sectional area of the opening; and a bubble tube frame coupled tothe turbidity curtain and extending outwardly therefrom to surround theturbidity curtain, the bubble tube frame including a plurality ofoutlets configured to emit bubbles into the body of water around aperimeter of the dredge site.
 2. The dredging apparatus of claim 1,wherein the set of supports removably mount the buoyant platform on aselected portion of the bottom of the body of water.
 3. The dredgingapparatus of claim 1, wherein the plurality of outlets of the bubbletube frame are fluidically coupled to a fluid supply through thetelescoping members of the turbidity curtain.
 4. The dredging apparatusof claim 1, further comprising a plurality of winches mounted on thebuoyant platform and coupled to the plurality of telescoping memberswherein the plurality of winches adjusts a vertical position of thebubble tube frame relative to the buoyant platform by adjusting a lengthof the plurality of telescoping members.
 5. The dredging apparatus ofclaim 1, further comprising a wildlife detector mounted on the buoyantplatform, and configured to monitor the body of water, wherein thewildlife detector is configured to detect wildlife and a distance of thewildlife from the dredge site.
 6. The dredging apparatus of claim 5,further comprising a controller coupled between the wildlife detectorand a fluid supply for the bubble tube frame, wherein the controller isconfigured to selectively enable a flow of fluid to the bubble tubeframe in response to the detected wildlife including a protectedspecies, and the protected species being within a threshold distancefrom the dredge site.
 7. The dredging apparatus of claim 6, wherein thewildlife detector includes a sonar transceiver configured to generate avisual signature of the detected wildlife, and wherein the controller isconfigured to process the visual signature to identify a protectedspecies and calculate a distance of the protected species from thedredge site.
 8. The dredging apparatus of claim 5, further comprising anetwork transceiver coupled to the wildlife detector, and configured toexchange data with a monitoring system that is distal to the buoyantplatform.
 9. The dredging apparatus of claim 1, further comprising ahydraulic adjustment system mounted on the upper surface of the buoyantplatform, the hydraulic adjustment system including a hydraulic pumpoperably connected to a hydraulic actuator operably coupled to the setof supports to mount the set of supports on the bottom of the body ofwater.
 10. The dredging apparatus of claim 1, wherein the buoyantplatform is dimensioned to support an excavator on the upper surfacethereof, the excavator being operationally independent of the dredgingapparatus.
 11. A dredging system, comprising: a buoyant platform havingan upper surface, a lower surface configured to float on a body ofwater, and an opening having a horizontal cross-sectional area andextending from the upper surface through the lower surface; a set ofsupports mechanically coupled to the buoyant platform, wherein the setof supports is configured maintain a position of the buoyant platformabove a dredge site at a bottom of the body of water; a turbiditycurtain coupled to the buoyant platform using a plurality of telescopingmembers, the turbidity curtain surrounds at least the horizontalcross-sectional area of the opening; a bubble tube frame coupled to theturbidity curtain and extending outwardly therefrom to surround theturbidity curtain, the bubble tube frame including a plurality ofoutlets configured to emit bubbles into the body of water around aperimeter of the dredge site; a wildlife detector mounted on the buoyantplatform, and configured to monitor the body of water, wherein thewildlife detector is configured to detect wildlife and a distance of thewildlife from the dredge site; and a controller operatively coupled tothe wildlife detector and a fluid supply to the bubble tube frame,wherein the controller is configured to selectively enable a flow offluid to the bubble tube frame in response to the detected wildlifeincluding a protected species, and the protected species being within athreshold distance from the dredge site.
 12. The dredging system ofclaim 11, wherein the plurality of outlets of the bubble tube frame arefluidically coupled to the fluid supply through the telescoping membersof the turbidity curtain.
 13. The dredging system of claim 11, furthercomprising a plurality of winches mounted on the buoyant platform andcoupled to the plurality of telescoping members, wherein the pluralityof winches adjusts a vertical position of the bubble tube frame relativeto the buoyant platform by adjusting a length of the plurality oftelescoping members.
 14. The dredging system of claim 13, wherein thecontroller is coupled to the plurality of winches and further configuredto adjust the vertical position of the bubble tube frame relative to thebuoyant platform based on a condition of the body of water.
 15. Thedredging system of claim 11, wherein the wildlife detector includes asonar transceiver configured to generate a visual signature of thedetected wildlife, and wherein the controller is configured to processthe visual signature to identify a protected species and calculate adistance of the protected species from the dredge site.
 16. The dredgingsystem of claim 11, further comprising a network transceiver couplingthe controller to the wildlife detector and the fluid supply, whereinthe controller is included in a monitoring system at a location distalto the buoyant platform.
 17. A method, comprising: positioning a buoyantplatform above a dredge site within a body of water, the buoyantplatform having an upper surface, a lower surface configured to float onthe body of water, and an opening having a horizontal cross-sectionalarea over the dredge site and extending from the upper surface throughthe lower surface; monitoring the body of water with a wildlife detectorconfigured to detect wildlife within the body of water, and a distanceof the wildlife from the dredge site; selectively emitting bubblesaround a perimeter of the dredge site using a bubble tube frame of aturbidity curtain coupled to the buoyant platform, in response to thedetected wildlife including a targeted species, and the targeted speciesbeing within a threshold distance from the dredge site; and conducting adredge operation on the dredge site after positioning the buoyantplatform above the dredge site, and during the monitoring of the body ofwater.
 18. The method of claim 17, further comprising adjusting avertical position of the bubble tube frame of the turbidity curtainrelative to the buoyant platform with a plurality of telescoping memberscoupled between the buoyant platform and the turbidity curtain, whereinthe plurality of telescoping members fluidically couples the turbiditycurtain to a fluid supply.
 19. The method of claim 18, whereinpositioning the buoyant platform includes causing a hydraulic actuatorcoupled to a set of supports of the buoyant platform to mount the atleast one adjustable support on a bottom of the body of water, whereinthe hydraulic actuator is operationally independent of the plurality oftelescoping members.
 20. The method of claim 18, wherein adjusting theposition of the bubble tube frame of the turbidity curtain furtherincludes actuating a set of winches mechanically coupled to theplurality of telescoping members.